O’Shea Jackson Jr. Talks ‘Den of Thieves’ Sequel: 'We Have Some Unfinished Business'

In 2018, Den of Thieves captivated audiences with its blend of high-stakes heists, morally complex characters, and an unpredictable narrative. What started as a gritty L.A.-based crime thriller quickly gained a cult following, especially with the shocking twist involving O’Shea Jackson Jr.'s character, Donnie, who turned out to be the mastermind behind it all.

Now, fans are buzzing with excitement for the long-awaited sequel, Den of Thieves 2: Pantera. Set in Europe, this follow-up promises to take the action to new heights, with Donnie returning to pull off another daring heist.

“They told me it was time to get to work, and I said start the plane,” O’Shea Jackson Jr. tells Complex. “Who doesn’t wanna drive cool cars and shoot stuff with Gerard Butler as much as you can?” he reflects.

The anticipation for this sequel has been building since it was announced, with audiences eager to see how Donnie’s story evolves and how the film will compare to the original.

“Donnie’s energy is definitely different this time around there’s no doubt about it,” Jackson Jr. says. “But I think what’s interesting in this one is that we kinda tap into Donnie asking himself why he chose this life.”

We caught up with Jackson Jr. ahead of the official trailer release to talk about how Donnie has changed since we last saw him, the challenges of taking the character to new heights, and the excitement of working on a sequel with such high expectations.

As the countdown to Pantera continues, Jackson’s reflections offer a sneak peek into what fans can expect from this highly anticipated follow-up.

Be sure to check out the first official trailer for the film, too.

Complex: ‘Den of Thieves’ came out in 2018 and was a massive hit at the box office. Now, 6 years later, fans are finally getting their long-awaited sequel. What was the biggest motivation to return to the franchise for another movie?

O’Shea Jackson Jr.: For me personally, the biggest motivation to make another film was the fans. Besides Straight Outta Compton, Thieves is the movie that I asked about when it comes to the people. And also, we as filmmakers know that we have some unfinished business, and we struggle with the first one. It’s nothing like the work environment that our Director Christian Gudegast provides, and who doesn’t wanna drive cool cars and shoot stuff with Gerard Butler as much as you can?

Your character’s evolution in the first film wasn’t entirely realized until the end. How did your approach to Donnie change between films, knowing audiences now know you as more than just the getaway driver but really the mastermind behind it all?

OJJ: My entire mindset had to change. In a lot of ways Donnie in the first movie mirrored how I felt in my own career. Thieves was my third movie ever so I had the mentality of just keeping my head down, not making waves, focus on doing a good job and waiting for the results. And in order to keep the twist of the first film undiscovered, that’s exactly what Donnie had to do. When it comes to Den of Thieves: Pantera, the audience knows who I am and they know what I’ve come to do, both Donnie and O’Shea. I would watch a lot of Jon Jones UFC fights to kinda keep that alpha/killer mindset that I needed for this performance.

You mentioned on Twitter that you were “training for my super saiyan body.” How do you approach preparing for an action film compared to other genres you’ve worked on – and how much weight did you actually put on for this role?

OJJ: When doing action films the very first thing you gotta work on is your look and your stamina. You’re in for very long days, that will take a toll on your body. I had multiple trainers but my main Sensei was the great Harley Pasternak. Dude is a genius. I think at my peak we ended up taking off close to 40 pounds, adding about 12 or more of muscle. Not quite super saiyan, but if there’s room for a 3rd installment, I’ll ask for the Hugh Jackman plan.

In the first film, you mentioned how Donnie was an underdog and “the most regular guy.” How does Pantera continue that arc – or do we see Donnie take on a different energy?

OJJ: Donnie’s energy is definitely different this time around there’s no doubt about it. But I think what’s interesting in this one is that we kinda tap into Donnie asking himself why he chose this life. Life throws something at us all, and how we react and adapt turns us into the people we are. Donnie is a chameleon, and if his camouflage doesn’t work then he doesn’t eat or he’s dead.

You and Gerard Butler got some quality time together in the first film, but now y’all are on the same team for this movie. What was it like collaborating with him again in this new capacity, as partners?

OJJ: That dude Gerry is a beast. In the first film, the outlaws and regulators were separated so it wasn’t a lot of one on one with him. But this go around we had a lot of conversations about the business and performance. We actually were neighbors for the majority of filming. He’s fun on set and is always thinking on how to get the best out of what we do. I couldn’t ask for a better cast mate to show me the ropes of a genre. Just don’t say the word “madness” around him unless you want him to spartan kick the closest thing to him. It’s a whole thing hahaha.

With the European setting in Pantera, did that change the feel of the heists and action? What kind of challenges – or opportunities – does this more glamorous and international scope provide compared to the streets of LA in the first film?

OJJ: The European setting was definitely a different feel and vibe. Not necessarily the heist but every other aspect without question. Some of the challenges were definitely the narrow streets and even some buildings. When you’re a film crew there’s a lot of moving parts and close quarters are an alleyway for accidents hahaha. Doesn’t hurt to start up a Duolingo account either. I fell in love with Tenerife. The Canary Islands will see me again. Some of the best people I ever met in my life live there. Shoutout to Hermes, can’t wait to see you again my friend.

You’ve been exploring a variety of projects in recent years, but this is your first return to a franchise. Were you ever hesitant to come back – and what have you learned about your Hollywood career since the first ‘Den of Thieves’?

OJJ: No. I was never hesitant to come back. It’s my first franchise and I’m not one to just throw away an opportunity like this. It was a chance to push myself and to see if I can take things to another level. What kinda Laker would I be if I left our director Christian without his teammate. Or what kinda Spartan would I be to desert Leonidas. We gotta take this thing as far as we can. They told me it was time to get to work, and I said start the plane. When I did my first film, many tried to downplay my accomplishments by saying it was easy because I played my father. So I had a meeting with my team to make sure every role was different from the last. It has led me to an amazing life so far. And it has also allowed me to sharpen my acting blade. Den of thieves was one of the first to believe in me beyond straight outta compton. I’m not turning my back on Christian or anyone involved. Let’s make 10 of these.

You’ve never been shy about acknowledging the benefits of being a celebrity’s son. Do you feel more pressure to exceed because of who your father is, or do you view it more as motivation to carve out your own path?

OJJ: I think it would be crazy and disrespectful to deny what God has blessed me with. God has blessed me with the best family on earth, not just a legendary father. The pressure I put on myself to succeed comes from me being a father myself. My daughter Jordan has to have a cool dad. I want her to be proud of me. I love seeing her face when she sees me on TV. No matter what, she is my focus, my motivation, and my purpose to do what I do. I love you Jordan.

What is inspiring your current pursuits and interests?

OJJ: I guess I kinda answered that already but I’ll double down. My daughter first and foremost is my inspiration to pursue greatness. A more selfish response is that I want to take my family’s name to new heights. I was never gonna do that in music, so I strive to do that in film. So far in these ten years, I got us in the Star Wars franchise and Godzilla franchise. But as a Kobe fan, I want some trophies.

Are there any plans for a ‘Den of Thieves’ trilogy?

OJJ: There is in my mind at least. Of course it’s all on the fan support because the dollar moves all. But as long as this phone keeps ringing, I will be taking my chair in the den of thieves.